The Legislative Yuan’s Economics Committee held a public hearing on Monday on an amendment to the Foreign Trade Act proposed by lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). It would ban exports of specified integrated circuits, key wafer materials, components and chipmaking equipment to mainland China without government approval.
Violators would face up to 10 years in prison and fines of NT$5 million to NT$10 million (US$155,000 to US$310,000), according to the proposed amendment. The same penalties would apply to anyone shipping controlled goods to China through a third country, while illegal gains would be confiscated.